Epigenetically modified nucleobases (5hmc, 5fc, and 5caC) interaction with boron and nitrogen doped porous graphene (B/N-pGr) as promising materials for biosensing application: A density functional theory calculations

Abstract

In this present work, porous graphene (pGr), boron (B-pGr), and nitrogen (N-pGr) doped porous sheets are explored as a bio-sensor device for sensing modified nucleobases (MBs) in cancer therapy using density functional theory (DFT). The obtained geometrical, energetic and electronic properties revealed that the B-pGr is highly reactive and it adsorbs MBs better than the pGr and N-pGr, because B atom holds empty p-orbitals which easily interact with partially filled p-orbital of N and O atom. Thus, the adsorption energies of 5hmc, 5caC, and 5fc on B-pGr are high rather than the pGr and N-pGr. The corresponding adsorption energies are −96.074, −77.0, and −60.721 kcal/mol for 5hmc, 5caC, and 5fc respectively. The positive signature of ΔN values (0.005 eV, 0.076 eV, and 0.047 in MBs on pGr and 0.171 eV, 0.252 eV and 0.205 eV in MBs on N-pGr) are obtained at MBs on pGr and N-pGr complex. The negative ΔN values (−0.141 eV, −0.032 eV, and −0.061 eV in MBs on B-pGr) are obtained at MBs of B-pGr. The calculated absorption values shows that the B-pGr is strongly adsorbed MBs at 342 nm. The obtained results exhibit that the B-pGr sheet retains significant therapeutic potential as a bio-sensing application for cancer therapy.